The flag uses the popular pan-African colours based on the flag of Ethiopia, arranged in a vertical tricolour; it probably probably is a reference to the flag of France, which controlled the territory of Senegal till 1960.

The official interpretation of the colours is as follows:

Green is, for Muslims, the colour of the Prophet's flag; for Christians, it is the symbol of hope; for Animists, it is symbol of fecundity.

Gold (yellow) is the symbol of wealth; it represents the product of work, for a nation whose main priority is the progress of economy, which will allow the increase of the cultural level, the second national priority. Gold is also the colour of Arts and Literature, as well as of Intellect.

Red recalls the colour of blood, therefore colour of life and the sacrifice accepted by the nation, and also of the strong determination to fight against underdevelopment.

The star is a frequent element in the Black African symbolism. The five branches of the star represent the opening of Senegal to the five continents. The star represents also the sky and therefore the spiritual values of the nation. The green colour of the star mostly symbolizes hope brought by the recent independence of the Republic of Senegal.

The territory of the contemporary Senegal was controlled by the French since 1950s, and remained part of the French Sudan in 1920-1960. The French Sudan had its own flag which was flown alongside with the flag of France, it was a French tricolour defaced with a kanaga, a stylized human figure.

The first flag of Senegal appeared in 1958 when Senegal was granted autonomy. It was green with a yellow star.

In January of 1959 Mali and Senegal formed the Mali Federation. Its flag was based on the flag of the French Sudan, but used the colours of the Pan-African movement. The federation became independent on June 20, 1960, and collapsed on August 20, 1960 when Senegal left it. On the same day Senegal adopted its current flag.